Coping with flight problems can be very annoying. However, the good news is that the European Union has laws to help travelers when things don’t go as planned. If you’re flying in the EU, it’s a good idea to be aware of these protections. They can come in handy if your flight goes off course.
Being aware of your options can make handling travel problems less stressful. While it won’t make your flight go any faster, it can help you feel less stressed when things don’t go as planned.
Passenger Rights under EU Regulation 261/2004
When you’re flying in the EU, rest assured that there’s aid available in the case of a flight disruption. EU laws guarantee airlines look after their passengers when things go wrong.
When flights are delayed or cancelled, airlines must offer you:
- Meals and beverages
- A hotel room if you’re stuck overnight
- Transportation to and from the hotel
- Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes
If you’re experiencing a significant delay or your flight is cancelled, you might also be entitled to:
- A refund
- An alternative flight
- Compensation to make up for the inconvenience
Remember to inquire with airline staff about these entitlements if your plans change. They must tell you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation.
Chair Airlines Flight Delay Compensation
Delays with flights from Chair Airlines can be very frustrating. However there’s a silver lining: if you’re stuck waiting for more than three hours owing to the airline’s fault, you might be able to get some compensation.
Regulations in the UK and EU are in your favor. You could get up to €600 per person. What is important is when you land, not when you leave. So monitor your arrival time if you want to seek flight delay compensation.
Your compensation depends on the length of your journey. A brief trip won’t be compensated as highly as a long one, even if they’re both delayed for the same duration.
Want to know exactly how much you could get? Check out the table below to see the potential reimbursement amounts:
| Less than 3 hours | Between 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Distance |
| €0 | €250 | €250 | All flights up to 1500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All intra-EU flights over 3500 km |
| €0 | €300 | €600 | All non-EU flights over 3500 km |
Chair Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation
The European Union has laws to protect you if your flight gets cancelled. Here’s the important information:
If your flight is cancelled within two weeks of you’re supposed to leave, you might get compensation as much as €600. But there’s a catch – the airline doesn’t have to pay if they can get you on another flight that doesn’t mess up your plans too much.
The airline may not need to compensate you if they offer you a new flight that meets the following conditions:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
If you agree to take a different flight from the airline, you can still get compensation. The most important thing is your arrival time at your destination.
How much money you might get is determined by two things:
- The distance of your flight
- How late you arrive
So, even if you arrive later than planned, you might still get some compensation.
Refer to the following table to see more details:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
The airline may not need to compensate you if they can provide transportation to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even if you arrive shortly after the scheduled time, you might not be eligible for flight cancellation compensation.
How to Claim Compensation from Chair Airlines
It’s essential to know how to claim the compensation you’re entitled to under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s what you need to do:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.
Don’t forget that it is your right as a passenger to claim compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight. No matter whether your flight was delayed because of operational reasons or technical issues, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control decisions, you have a right to compensation.
Which Chair Airlines Flights are Covered by EU261?
The air passenger protection regulations of the European Union have a wide-ranging scope. They cover every flight leaving a European Union member state airport and every flight landing at a European Union member state airport when an EU-based airline operates the flight.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ✅ Covered |
These regulations also include airlines from Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway. This means if you’re flying with any airline to, from, or within Europe, you most likely have these rights. It’s important to be aware of these laws – they exist to help you if issues arise with your flight. They make sure you’re not left on your own when your trip arrangements fall through.
When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation
Chair Airlines is not always responsible when flights are delayed or cancelled. Sometimes, events occur that the airline is powerless against, like really bad weather or unforeseen issues.
For instance, if there’s an abrupt major weather event, an airport emergency, or air traffic controllers go on strike, Chair Airlines isn’t responsible. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline has no control over.
When these things happen, you are unlikely to get any compensation. The airline is not considered to be doing anything wrong when these unforeseen difficulties arise.